Chapter 27 Sandalwood

At dawn, Suye City was shrouded in a layer of golden light, and the grottoes in the west were illuminated by the sunny and warm sun, showing more and more majestic treasures.The wind whistled through the gaps in the rocks, singing clearly, mixed with the chirping of early birds, and merged into a sound of nature. Yanhua's skirt was like the wind, floating on the waves, and in a blink of an eye, she went out of the room, and slapped Ziyan's door loudly. "Slacker, get up quickly, we are going to chase someone!" Zi Yan rubbed her eyes and opened the door, seeing her face up to the sky, Jin Chuan and Ming Dang were not wearing any, and she was wearing a pair of red embroidered boots, she said with a smile: "You really look like you are going to fight with your outfit."

As soon as he finished speaking, Yanhua pushed him out of the room.She was very interested, she directly dragged Ziyan into the stable, pointed to the two brown horses and said: "This is a fast horse from a merchant from the Western Regions, do you like it?" Looking at Zi Yan's clothes, the two horses have shiny manes and strong legs, they are indeed rare horses.As soon as he nodded, Yanhua shouted loudly: "Take twenty gold!" He raised his hand and threw out a silk sac, and two businessmen in bearded hats flashed beside him, and they took the gold with a smile. Ziyan knew that Yuhua wanted to seek revenge from that mustache, so she couldn't bear to hinder her ambition, so she consciously went back to the house to pack her luggage.Counting the amount of gold and silver left, he was slightly worried, but his worries quickly disappeared like the wind.The spices that Yuhua brought with him were priceless, so he was not afraid that he would run out of money halfway and sleep on the streets.Thinking of this, Zi Yan's heart settled down, humming the Su Ye folk song she just heard, and took the package to meet with Xie Hua.

Yanhua bought a map of the Northern Wilderness from the shop owner, which showed the location of the thirty-six countries and the direction of mountains, rivers and rivers in detail.Under her money offensive, the shop owner provided some information. For example, there are three roads to Fangheji, but only Xuzigou is suitable for the camel caravan.Another example is that Xiao Huzi is driving overnight, and it is estimated that it will be noon today when he arrives at Xuzigou. If he wants to pass through the deep ditch with a total length of 40 miles, he must first feed enough people and animals, and the only resting place there is in Mizoguchi.

"If we catch up at full speed, we will be able to catch up with them when we arrive at Mingye Grotto in Mizoguchi before noon." Hua Hua confidently jumped onto the steed, and her whole body was covered with the golden light of the rising sun, and headed towards the direction of the wind with all her strength. Zi Yan stroked the horse's fluffy mane, and said softly: "I'm going to wrong you and go on your way." Clamping her legs, the horse kicked up its hooves and rushed into the distance. The riding skills of the two became more and more sophisticated, and it didn't take long for the two horses to go side by side and passed several villages, approaching Xuzigou a little bit.It was as if she had wings on her back, and she rushed all the way like flying, never getting tired.Zi Yan followed unhurriedly. Fortunately, the horse was fast enough and protected by exquisite harness, so it didn't feel hard when galloping.

Occasionally ignoring the scenery passing by, he glanced at the frowning look of Yan Hua, and he secretly broke into a smile.What kind of master, what kind of pavilion master, after abandoning these things, Yanhua is the most free woman, she loves and hates freely, laughs and scolds at will.Zi Yan is sincerely pleased for her at this moment. He also thought about sideways, that after worshiping under the Qingluan Gate, he would have a new life, and after that, he would be like a chick soaring in the sky on the wind.When a woman can indulge in the rivers and lakes without being bound in the boudoir, this world has a different kind of charm.

After riding for more than half an hour, Yuhua slowed down the horse's speed, and Ziyan shouted loudly: "How about stopping to drink some water?" Yuhua nodded in response, and drove the horse to find a place with fresh and tender grass to stop.Ziyan glanced at her expression, with a layer of slight anger in her eyes, she couldn't help laughing and said: "There are so many people with mustaches, do you have enough incense?" With a happy expression on his face, he said: "Hey, you know what I'm thinking. You said, we showed up so angry, the little beard must be on guard. Why don't we wait for them to arrive at Mingye Grotto and secretly pour some medicine in the cave?" In their drinks, let him never slip away!"

"You make us look like robbers." As soon as Yanhua pouted, she didn't pay attention to the worldly etiquette, so she raised her eyebrows and said to Ziyan: "It's your mother-in-law's, this guy can ride on us again and again. Is it tolerable or unbearable! If you and I are so useless, if it gets to Jiaojing and the others, there will be no place to put our faces." Zi Yan smiled and said: "If you and I don't tell, how would he know." "It doesn't matter. In short, this mustache is too deceptive, and I can't swallow this breath without giving him a lesson. If you don't like to help me, just be obedient and watch by the side, and don't turn your elbows out."

"Okay, okay, I understand. Since you are determined to make a move, how can I stand idly by? Why don't we take the opportunity of the break to change our appearance, we simply pretend to be other business travelers, and ask him for a bowl of water and wine." Ziyan Liuli A flash of light flashed through the eyes like eyes, and he said slyly, "This time, do you want to pretend to be a man or a woman?" Yanhua giggled, "You're still smart, of course I want to pretend to be a girl, and I want to be the one who is unparalleled, so that he won't have too much thought to fortify. I want them all to fall under my smile, you Just wait for the opportunity to administer anesthetic." She was so excited that she jumped up on the spot happily, and her skirt with Danbi gauze pattern rippled beautifully.

Ziyan took out the necessary containers, stared at Yuhua's face for a long time, and said, "Is the beauty you are pretending to be from the Middle Earth, or from a foreign land?" After thinking about it, she smiled mischievously at him, "Pretend to be a woman from the Western Regions. , can you make a wig for me in time?" Zi Yan said: "You don't need to fake it, just curl your hair, and it will be restored after washing it in another day. Turn your eyeballs into royal blue and raise your nose a bit higher. You The skin is very fair, there is no need to change it, just apply some lead powder to make the outline more distinct."

Yanhua clapped her hands and smiled, "Okay! As long as I collect the spices and change the smell, even if he is a god, he won't be able to tell. What about you?" "His mustache is very vivid, how about I get a beard too?" "His beard is brown, so you can use black, so as not to imitate too much and show your feet." Zi Yan nodded and said: "The color of the beard and hair must be the same. I have a ready-made beard as a spare. You can help me choose a suitable one." Looking at his face, he finally picked out a thin and upturned mustache, and said: "Here, this is not bad, and he is also mature."

Ziyan saw that it was almost the same shape as that of the caravan's mustache, and she didn't reveal it, so she just applied the cream powder mixed with Mithrone monks on her face, and her face suddenly turned dark yellow, as if it had been exposed for many days .Then he cut one of the strands of beard into two, and pasted them on the left and right sides of his lips one by one.After he finished posting, he looked in the mirror, and Yanhua called out, "Oh, I look so much like that person." Ziyan said leisurely: "No hurry." She took off her beard and turned it over again, with the tail of the beard facing down, and then used eyebrows to slightly dye it. When she looked up at Yuhua, she stared at him for a long time, and said: "This is much more handsome." He quickly added, "As expected of you, no matter how you dress up, you look better than a mustache." "You are not as calm as usual this time." Zi Yan said with a smile, playing with her competitive attitude.Speaking of which, Fu Chuanhong gave way too much to Yuhua, and was often ignored by her. If he saw that Yuhua was so mindful of being teased by others, would he occasionally make a joke? He was stunned, raised his hand and knocked on Ziyan's head, and said plausibly: "What nonsense are you talking about, I came prepared this time. Just do business if you like it. If he doesn't want to sell spices, he won't sell them. Why? Trafficking people for the first time, and stealing horses and horses for the second time? This despicable villain has killed countless people! Are you... afraid of trouble?" Zi Yan shrugged, and jokingly said: "After Ma overthrew them, do you beat him to vent your anger, or..." Yan Hua hesitated and said, "Well, we must first recapture the chariot and horses, and then deal with him in the same way as others - take away his spices and escape far away." When the two horses galloped again, the two changed their costumes completely.Ziyan was wearing a ochre-colored robe, a rattan hat with peacock feathers slanted on her head, and a short knife with a silver handle on her waist.Yuhua is dressed in a white robe inlaid with colorful cloth, and the half-moon beaded crown is covered with red brocade jade, coral and wolf teeth, and her curly long hair complements the beads hanging from the crown.A turquoise and gold and silver necklace hung on her chest, complementing the bright silver bracelets on both hands and the dozens of extremely thin silver silk belts around her waist, she was a gorgeous woman from the Western Regions. "If you say that you are a barbarian, no one will believe it." Zi Yan looked at the brown-haired and blue-eyed Yan Hua and smiled. The accessories all over Yu Hua's body were ringing like bells. At this time, she didn't seem to be going to take revenge, but rather to go to a secret appointment, full of enchanting charm.Ziyan was surprised why she was disguised into such an appearance. As she wished, she had a fascinating hue, and her eyebrows, eyes, lips and teeth were as dazzling as jewels that refracted the sun.He thought of the sparkle in Yanhua's eyes, at that time he probably saw the bottom of her heart, and unconsciously let Rouge have a fragrant breath. The pursuit stopped and stopped, and after another hour, the dense Beaulieu pine forest continued endlessly, spreading out a piece of blue sea.Seeing that Xuzigou was approaching, Jihua dismounted slowly, and suddenly raised her voice and asked Ziyan: "Are there any flaws in me?" Ziyan said: "It's not the first time you have disguised yourself, you should know that the biggest flaw is in your heart. .If you still think that you are Yuhua, you will show your feet when you meet someone later." Yuhua nodded and smiled sweetly, "Call me Yiertai." There is a huge cave dug on the soil slope at the entrance of Xuzigou. The locals call it Mingye Cave, which is specially for travelers to rest.From time to time, a traveling businessman picks up tea and dry food to do business. If you are lucky, you will see the sheep herder drive the livestock and walk by, adding a little excitement to the lonely valley. Sure enough, Moustache and the camel team were resting in the cave, and the camels were quietly chewing alfalfa, but the carriages of Ziyan and Yanhua had disappeared.Getting up before dawn, the hunchbacks were so tired that they leaned in the cave like a pile of rotten branches.Only Mustache took the bowls offered by the wine seller, and filled them with good wine one after another. "Eighteen bowls!" The wine seller applauded loudly, not forgetting to fill up a bowl immediately, "Good drinker, come again!" The mustache was full of pride, looking around at the exhausted brothers, he raised his head and drank another bowl. "nineteen!" The hooves of the two fast horses attracted everyone's attention.The men who were listlessly lying on the ground were suddenly warmed by the cloud-like figure, and jumped up one by one, staring at the beautiful woman floating in the distance with their eyes wide open.Seeing fairies in such a remote place, they couldn't help grinning stupidly. The hard work of traveling for half a day was not in vain, even if they traveled the same distance, it would be worthwhile for them to see the beauties a few more times. The yellow-green ditch suddenly became sultry, and the mustache glanced at them calmly. After drinking, he threw down the wine bowl and said to the hunchbacks, "Come over and eat some beef. We're on our way!" Unexpectedly, no one heard what he said, even the wine dealer, everyone stared straight at the soft-waisted Yu Hua who got off the horse, as if seeing a rare treasure, and couldn't bear to look away. Zi Yan paid attention to the actions of the mustache coldly, his eyes did not fall on the other party, but his eyes were always feeling the thoughts of the mustache.As a disguiser, he can walk between the boundaries of appearance and identity, freely entering and exiting without obstacles.He was a little bit worried, Yuhua, no, can Yiertai face Mustache freely and not be messed up by the other party? Yiertai walked towards the mustache, and then turned to the wine dealer when he was approaching, with a charming smile and a bright smile like summer flowers. "What good wine do you have?" She spoke in Beihuang dialect with an accent, her words were unclear, but she was very charming and gratifying. The wine dealer was dazed, and suddenly realized that she was asking himself, and hurriedly said: "There... what is it... oops." He couldn't remember in a hurry, and the mustache said: "You have been bragging for a long time, talking about your Amu wine has a strong temper, after drinking it burns into flames, only a hero deserves to drink it." The wine dealer didn't appreciate it, he glanced at him, and argued: "What's the matter, my wine is a little bit stronger, but I don't know how many girls in the whole Northern Wilderness like to drink it." He smiled at Yiertai , "Would you like to have a sip? You have drank it, you will never forget it." Yiertai still didn't look at Mustache, "Then I'll try." She smiled and turned to Ziyan, "Yi Lie, there is your favorite liquor." She gave her a random name, Ziyan Not knowing whether to laugh or cry, he got off his horse and came over. Only then did the crowd see him, a perfect match, and jealousy burned in their eyes.As if there was something heavy on their hearts, the men looked at the two desperately, as if they wanted to find out the common ground between them, so that people could be convinced that they were a pair of brother and sister.Mustache smiled faintly, and walked away with a jug of wine in his arms. As soon as he walked away, Yiertai was anxious, winked at Ziyan, then frowned and said to the wine seller: "Is there a clean wine glass?" ?” The wine dealer hurriedly took one out of the burden, rubbed it with his cuff again, Yiertai turned his head in disgust, Zi Yan said: "Wait, let me borrow a wine glass." He walked to the mustache, bowed and asked: "I don't know if there are any cups and cups among the so many goods?" Before the mustache could answer, a hunchback in Tsing Yi immediately replied: "Yes, yes! How about the amber inlaid with silver?" He dug out one, thought for a while and took the filigree ball flower gold cup, "This one is good, this one is more auspicious." Mustache glanced and saw the other two hunchbacks rummaging through the package with red eyes, and interjected coldly: "There are plenty of wine glasses, but the more expensive ones are." Zi Yan smiled, "I'm not afraid of the price, I'm just afraid that the goods are not good. "Miao Huzi couldn't help but look at him more, "Come with me." The hunchback didn't dare to move when he saw what Xiao Huzi was saying, and respectfully moved out of the way.Mustache walked up to a camel and took out a gold-painted box from the bundle. "This is the Zixia Cup, made by firing broken utensils and rouge." Mustache squeezed a shining porcelain cup and handed it to Ziyan.Zi Yan turned the wine glass over and looked closely, the Zixia Cup was made with complicated craftsmanship, ordinary rich people simply couldn't get it, so she couldn't help but look up a few more times. The mustache casually took another golden and crystal clear enamel cup with chiseled tires. The gold water patterns chiseled on the light blue glazed floor were loose and flowing, and it was also an ingenious treasure. "This is something from the Western Regions, and it is worthy of this girl." Zi Yan said casually: "It's a bit vulgar, but it's passable. I want both, and you make an offer." The mustache stared, and the beard on his lips trembled, "Vulgar? If you can tell that vulgar is Where, if I am convinced after hearing it, it’s okay to send it off to you.” Yiertai smiled lightly, this was Ziyan's forte, she Shi Shiran picked up the corner of her skirt to find a place to sit.The wine dealer and a group of hunchbacks gathered together to listen to what Zi Yan had to say. "In my eyes, gold and silver wares deliberately made in the world are common things. I heard that there is a sea of ​​red beyond the Nanling Ridge. The snails are like a willow bucket, and the color is as bright as emeralds. If you take it as a cup, you can fill up the sea. Bitter air. In addition, the midsummer lotus leaf is rolled into a cup shape, and the hosta is used to pierce the center of the petiole. After filling the wine, you can raise your head and drink the lotus fragrance. This is the so-called "blue tube" drinking method. There is also a giant bird The inner wall of Lingteng's empty egg shell is cleaned and filled with wine. The wine smells like this kind of fragrant bird, and the longer it is left, the stronger the aroma..." The mustache was fascinated leisurely, and pondered: "It's really more interesting than these wine glasses I bought. These two glasses are for you, and I will toast you a toast. Why don't you tell me some anecdotes from other regions." He raised his hand to present the Zixia cup and the enamel cup, brow The time is generous, not stingy.Ziyan took it freely, asked the wine seller for the wine, poured a glass and handed it to Yiertai. Yiertai pinched the enamel cup and looked at it curiously. The sun shone on his fingertips, and golden threads scattered, and the light flew around, transforming into a dragon that plunged into the palm of his hand.She exclaimed "Yeah", the light blue pupils faintly had the color of black gold, like the jewels that restrained the wine glass.Seeing that she liked the wine glass, Mustache smiled more on his face, "Let's have a drink together." He raised the wine jug in his hand in greeting. Ziyan snatched it away, took the filigree tumbled flower gold cup from the hunchback, and poured a cup for him, "Since you want to drink, why don't you use your wine cup to make it look good." The mustache smiled heartily. , and gestured to the hunchback beside him, the man immediately spread a camel-hair grape-pattern blanket on the open space. Sitting cross-legged comfortably, Mustache asked Zi Yan, "Where are you from the Western Regions?" Ziyan pulled Yiertai to sit down and asked her to wait for an opportunity near the mustache's wine glass.After the mustache drank a glass, Ziyan poured him the wine courteously, and said, "We come from Mount Shalaqi, what's your name?" "Shidu." His mustache was upturned happily, "If your name is Yi Lie, this girl is..." "She is my sister Iltai." When everyone sighed comfortably, Shi Du gave a perceptive smile. Seeing Yiertai sipping his wine thoughtfully, he spoke with a pleasant face, "Where are you going?" Dragging by two magnificent currents, people's hearts trembled, "I heard that the Beihuang Copper Sand Castle, Fangheji, and Xiyan River are very distinctive. We want to see if they are worthy of the name." Shi Du smiled and said: "The Copper Sand Castle has been abandoned for many years, and there are few people. There are only two of you. If you get lost or encounter wild animals, you may lose your bones." A hunchback couldn't help but interjected: "That's right! Copper Sand Castle In the desert, I must never go there." Yiertai showed a slight disappointment, and quickly smiled sassyly, and said, "Don't be afraid, I have my brother to protect me." Shi Du said: "Fangheji is worth a visit. Xiyan River is the right time to go. Tens of thousands of wild geese live in one place, which is not a sight that can be seen elsewhere. When the geese return south in autumn, you can see nothing. Gone." Yiertai happily said: "We will go to Fangheji first, and then go north to Xiyan River." The hunchback who spoke earlier said, "We're going to Fangheji too!" Shi Du gave him a sideways glance, and said calmly, "Drink a couple more sips of Amu wine and eat some meat. We'll be on our way later!" The cup drank again.Yiertai naturally took the jug from Ziyan's hand, poured wine for him, quietly sprinkled the powdered medicine in his palm, and said with a smile: "I don't know how long it will take to walk this Xuzigou, I have to eat before leaving." Her eyes were shining brightly, and the scent of her hands was floating.Ziyan stared at Shidu all the time, seeing him carelessly playing with the golden cup and not drinking immediately, a bad premonition flashed in her heart. "The two of you are walking so fast, you didn't expect to stop us here." Shi Du smiled authentically, and the divine light flickered from his pupils, "I don't know what method you used to change your appearance, but the two of you I remember her figure quite clearly, and I will never make a mistake after we parted for half a day..." He turned to Yiertai and said with a slight sarcasm, "Are you the girl who tried so hard to get spices? Can you think of the spices in my cup? Prescribing drugs is really cunning." In an instant, Yiertai changed back to Yuhua, lost her mysterious and mature charm, and returned to the charm of her little daughter.She reproached Ziyan and said: "Your disguise technique can be tricked, damn!" With a foreign accent, I think I can hide it from others.It is not to be underestimated that the other party can tell the truth through the figures of the two of them. It's really capsized in the gutter, Ziyan and Yanhua thought awkwardly, this is the end of underestimating the enemy.Having been teased by this person several times, one should understand his methods.Yuhua is not a stingy person, she didn't become angry when she was exposed, but raised her face and smiled and asked, "We came to ask for a carriage. Tell me, how do you pay for it?" "It's not that I've given you two cups." Shi Du laughed, "If it's not enough, I'll give you some more, but the spices you want are never thought of." Being robbed of white by him like this, Yan Hua became annoyed and dropped the enamel cup in her hand.Shi Du's eyes were like flying lightning, and he shot straight at Ziyan, as if he was waiting for his answer.Zi Yan smiled immediately. This person has a sharp mind, and he is definitely not an idle person. He took Yuhua's hand and said, "He treasures those spices, so there must be his intentions. Since we can't force it, let's say goodbye." Yanhua nodded and walked towards the mount without turning her head. The hunchback next to her heard that she was the woman from before, but she didn't believe it anyway, and gathered in twos and threes to whisper with doubts on her face.She got on the horse, beat the whip coldly, and the dust on the feet of Feiqi was like smoke, and she rushed into Xuzigou in an instant.Ziyan put away the wine glass, bowed politely to Shidu on the horse, and galloped after Xihua. Shi Du looked at the direction where they disappeared, showed an unpredictable smile, and said to himself: "They are two interesting people." On the way again, Yuhua seemed to have forgotten about being teased by Shidu, and chatted and laughed happily with Ziyan all the way. She hurried on the road without distraction, criss-crossing the black mountains and white waters, and bought other spices along the way to make up for the previous disappointment. back. Half a month later, the two finally arrived at Fanghe Market. The prosperity of the market was beyond imagination. It was a crowd rarely seen in the Northern Wilderness.It is said that the birthday of the Empress Dowager Su is approaching, Fangheji will be decorated with lanterns and festoons, and the tax will be reduced by 10%. Seeing that there were dozens of shops trading spices, he walked for more than an hour and collected seeds of herbs such as dill, mustard, and pines. Thinking of giving a rosemary bracelet to Fu Chuanhong, he bought another one of similar shape wear it.The thing that made her feel most happy was that she bought such rare spices as Jiebuluoxiang and Luohuxiang. She was too shy to fully enjoy it, but it was far better than her expectation. Ziyan accidentally found Ximi glue and high-quality lip balm that can be used to make masks, and bought a store that has been promoting Xianguangsan for a long time. Chicken blood can make people look radiant like a fairy. The two were tired from walking and were looking for a place to drink tea when there was a commotion near the Lion's Gate.Yan Hua dragged Zi Yan to watch the excitement, and it was the camel caravan that didn't want to attract the crowd, but the man with the mustache was not among them.Seeing the caravan meandering to the red lacquered gate of Fanghe Jiqianhusuo, under the guard of armored sergeants, the crowd of onlookers dispersed abruptly. Ziyan secretly felt that something was wrong, and she and Yuhua bypassed the crowds of bees and ants, covered their figures and went to the back door of the Qianhu House. With soft leather boots, he strode into the official residence, and a group of officials around him bowed their heads and saluted with unusual solemnity. The mustache on his lips was gone, and a sharp light occasionally appeared in his frowning eyes, like an eagle soaring on the grassland. This spice was requested by the king of Sheath Su, so I can't sell it at will.Looking back on the past, Yanhua suddenly had a flash of inspiration, "Could it be that he is the king of the Su country?" On a beautiful pine tree outside the mansion, two flowers, one brown and one purple in different colors, fluttered across their cheeks.